Semi-Final Clash

#3 VIU Mariners @ #2 Douglas Royals – Saturday October 27, 2:30pm | WATCH HERE

It’s semi-final Saturday in women’s soccer as the 2023 PACWEST championship tournament opens up in Nanaimo.

Six points separated the Royals and Mariners in the standings during the regular season.  They met four times during the campaign and match up well.  Each team beat the other once and they tied twice, including a 1-1 draw in the final game of the regular season.

They are extremely evenly matched and have a core group of veteran leadership particularly on the Royals side.  They lean on fourth seniors Kya Cleto and Alicia Skirzyk for their experience while third year athletes Isabelle Dobbin and Christine Singh put pressure on opposition’s backlines.  Dobbin and Skirzyk led the Royals in scoring with three goals apiece.   In their goal Vanessa Chung has been brilliant and leads the PACWEST with five clean sheets.

The Mariners on the other hand have been led by their youth movement for the most part.  Co-Rookie of the Year Jami Hartwick leads her club in scoring with five goals but they have weapons that can elevate their game at any time.  Their veteran leadership starts with their fifth-year senior and keeper Melanie Osborne that has played in several big games in her career.  She has two clean sheets this season.  The Mariners also have PACWEST Player of the Year, fourth year forward Saki Meshida who is a complete player who does several things that never show up on a scoresheet.

This game will no doubt come down the wire with the winner playing for PACWEST gold on Sunday where the Capilano Blues are waiting.

Head-to-Head

Records: Mariners 3-5-4 - Royals 5-3-4
Goals For: Mariners 18 – Royals 16
Goals Allowed: Mariners 23 – Royals 10

Leading Scorers:  Jami Hartwick – 5 goals (Mariners) – Alicia Skirzyk and Isabelle Dobbin – 3 goals (Royals)